The Blog
of grace & gumption
On Tuesday, we talked about what biblical encouragement looks like. Remember Heb. 10:24-25? Biblical encouragement is: Intentional Interactive In person, and Increasing But what does that look like on a practical, day-to-day basis? How can you be an encourager to...
$11.1 Billion Dollars That is how much the self-improvement market was worth in 2011. Whether it is through books, infomercials, motivational speakers, personal coaching, or seminars, people are yearning to improve themselves, their situations and their futures, and...
Do you ever feel like your kids (or grand kids or students) tune you out when you talk about God? Several years ago, I told my boys I wanted to talk about the last supper because it was the Thursday before Easter. My oldest, Gideon, rolled his eyes and said, "And I'm...
[1Footnotes: one that is relatively subordinate or minorFor every big name and big story in the Bible, there are hundreds of players whose contributions to the stories of God are less noticeable. Barely worth footnotes, really, but significant and inspiring...
The first time I saw my husband was on Easter Sunday 2003, and he was standing on the stage at church in the shadow of a large, 30-foot cross. Since then, living “in the shadow of the cross” has had special meaning to us, and God has shown me what it looks like to...
This is the last post in my series on Going to the Mountains. Let's spend today looking back on what we've discovered and seeing how we can apply it to our everyday lives. You may wonder, does going to the mountains mean that we have to call up our travel agent this...
Another thing I’ve noticed in my travels is that it’s not just mountains that people want to climb. There is always a race to get to the top of something. To the top of the mountains in Colorado. To the top of a volcano in Hawaii. To the top of the Empire State...
The rewards of going to the mountains begin when we start to see the provisional hand of God on our lives. When Abraham, with a heavy heart and heavy steps, trekked up the side of a mountain with his son Isaac beside him, their purpose for the journey was no secret. ...
Coupled with prayer in our mountaintop agendas is the equally important need for praise. “Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy” (Psalm 99:9). While prayer is the time we spend sharing our thoughts and desires with God,...
After we draw away from the crowds (privacy) and rush towards the mountains (God’s presence), what do we do once we get there? Is our part over? Have we done all we need to do by simply getting out of the world’s rain and under the Lord’s umbrella? How can we be...
The prophet Elijah received one of the most exciting commands in the Old Testament. The Lord told him, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by” (1 Kings 19:11). What would you do if you received a command like...
To begin with, the mountains provide a place of isolation, a place separate and private from the pressures of daily living. In the mountains, you are free from sudden interruptions, distracting noises, and unwelcome guests. There are no cell phones in the mountains. ...